Trojans play Georgia Tech in Sun Bowl, not exactly their game of choice

EL PASO, Texas - USC celebrated how much everyone enjoyed being part of the program a year ago, with the school band and Heisman Trophies part of the display for a gaudy news conference in which Matt Barkley said he would return for his senior season.

The backdrop today is a mediocre bowl game in a less-than-popular locale amid the feeling a lot of people can't get out of here fast enough.

Barkley is injured and won't even suit up today against Georgia Tech in the Sun Bowl. Wide receiver Robert Woods is expected to declare for the NFL draft right after the game.

Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin is coaching his last game with USC after facing intense criticism this season.

The one person many fans would like to leave - coach Lane Kiffin - is dug in and back for another season.

That is the scenery, not the nearby Franklin Mountains, when the Trojans (7-5) face the Yellow Jackets (6-7) at 11 a.m. in a game none of the USC players anticipated before the season. Neither did Kiffin.

USC is the first team ranked No. 1 in the preseason Associated Press poll to finish out of the rankings since 1964.

But Kiffin promised a fired-up, rejuvenated team today, not the Trojans who lost four of their past five games.

"It kind of feels like a new team, kind of a new spirit, very similar to how they started the year," Kiffin said.

A new season, a new team seems to be the message of the Sun Bowl, especially after linebacker Tony Burnett and defensive tackle Leonard Williams made critical comments about El Paso via twitter.

"The reason we feel like that as players is because this is our team and we can dictate if it is good or bad," cornerback Nickell Robey said. "It's about making a statement or sending a message."

A positive outcome provides relief for Kiffin and the Trojans. It also bucks USC's history in El Paso. The Trojans lost here in 1990 to Michigan State, a game made famous because coach Larry Smith and quarterback Todd Marinovich got into a heated argument when Smith pulled his star quarterback.

The results were no better in 1998 when a clearly unmotivated USC lost to Texas Christian 28-19.

But this game probably is more vital because of the criticism leveled at Kiffin the past two months. Perhaps that is why he compared the inconsistent Yellow Jackets third-ranked Oregon, the program he admires most.

Unfortunately, Robey didn't buy into that message.

"Oregon is way better and more talented than Georgia Tech," Robey said.

After watching Georgia Tech film, Robey said the Yellow Jackets run only about eight plays.

The problem is they run them well and few teams are used to playing against their triple-option offense, which looks like a cross between the wishbone and Wing-T as the quarterback takes snaps over center.

"I don't know how teams (prepare for them) in a week," Kiffin said. "They don't run a lot of plays but they are able to adjust to any defensive changes.

"They won't be surprised by anything they see."

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson runs his pass-shy offense despite the current rage in college football to run the spread offense with the quarterback in the shotgun.

"I never saw a reason to change," Johnson said. "I've never really worried about it."

The game does offer a preview for 2013, especially with freshman quarterback Max Wittek getting another start for USC before next season. Kiffin said he will open the competition again next year, but privately Wittek is viewed as the guy unless high school senior Max Browne makes a hugely successful transition when he enrolls next month.

Where Barkley might be a bit jaded playing in the Sun Bowl, Wittek is giddy at the prospect.

"This is my first bowl game and I'm excited," Wittek said. "Just the environment and everything surrounding a bowl game, it's a lot of fun.

"I'm a lot more comfortable now than I was against Notre Dame."

One of the few criticisms of Wittek's first start against the Irish was wide receiver Marqise Lee catching just five passes. Lee is expected to get more passes today, if he is OK. He twisted his knee in Saturday's practice but looked OK walking to the team bus later.

Kiffin said he did not have an update on Lee's status, but sources said they expect Lee to play.